Good evening and welcome to Craven Cottage for the opening match of the 2026-2027 Premier League season. What a night this is – our home opener under the floodlights, with a national and global television audience watching as we welcome our SW6 neighbours Chelsea Football Club. To all Chelsea supporters visiting us this evening, we welcome you warmly. And to the Fulham faithful here or reading elsewhere who are ready to embark on another season of top-flight football, thank you for your unwavering support.
Tonight marks the beginning of our fifth consecutive season in the English Premier League, and I am full of anticipation and optimism for what lies ahead. But before we look forward, I want to take a moment to express my profound gratitude to Marco Silva. Marco has been exceptional – not just as our Head Coach over the previous five seasons, but as a leader and wonderful representative of our Club. Marco instilled a winning culture and built the foundation upon which we now stand. Marco, thank you for everything. You will always be remembered as Forever Fulham.
I am delighted to welcome our new head coach, Álvaro Arbeloa, to Craven Cottage!
Mr Khan greets Alvara Arbeloa
Mr Khan greets Alvara Arbeloa
Álvaro has impressed us in every respect – his football philosophy, his passion for development, his willingness to trust youth, and his clear vision for where this Club can go. Over the summer, Álvaro and his staff have been meticulous in their preparation. They have trained our players to their way of playing, and I have been encouraged by how receptive the squad has been to his methods and philosophy. Our pre-season schedule, including our excellent victory over Stuttgart on 15 August, has given us the chance to put his tactical approach into practice and condition the squad to deliver the attacking style he favours. I believe we are ready for something special!
The summer has also been busy on the transfer front, and we are pleased to have done significant business comfortably ahead of our first league match tonight. First, we are thrilled to have made Jonah Kusi-Asare's loan move permanent. Jonah has proven himself in his short time with FFC as someone we want as part of our long-term vision, and we are excited to see him develop further under Álvaro and this staff.
We have also brought in some genuinely exciting talent with loads of potential: Gonzalo Garcia and César Palacios from Real Madrid, two young and highly skilled players arriving with considerable fanfare and familiarity with Álvaro, and Shea Charles from Southampton, a midfielder who will strengthen our presence in the middle of the park. All of our incoming players have been committed to long-term contracts, reflecting our belief in their capacity to help us now and in the seasons to come.
Shea Charles with Alvara Arbeloa after signing
Shea Charles with Alvara Arbeloa after signing
Tony Khan, our Director of Football, and I have found working with Álvaro on recruitment to be a total joy, and we will continue to consider additional paths and options to bolster our First Team in the week ahead. In the meantime, I genuinely believe we have assembled a squad capable of challenging for something more than we achieved last season, and I’m counting on tonight’s sold-out crowd at Craven Cottage to inspire us to a great start in 2026-2027!
It is equally important to acknowledge those who have departed. Raúl Jiménez, Issa Diop, Saša Lukić, Harry Wilson and Steven Benda have all moved on, and we wish them well and thank them for their commitment to FFC. Raúl and Harry, in particular, produced numerous memories that will be lasting and cherished by all of us.
Raul Jimenez, Harry Wilson and Issa Diop
Raul Jimenez, Harry Wilson and Issa Diop
Several of our younger players have also left on loan to gain first-team football experience, and we are equally hopeful that this season will be one of continued development and growth for them. Additionally, best wishes to our captain Tom Cairney, who underwent surgery this summer. We very much hope to see Tom back in training after the September international break, and we cannot wait to have our leader back on the pitch.
One of the great joys of pre-season has been witnessing Álvaro's ability to connect with our young players and inspire confidence in them. That enthusiasm is contagious, and it gives me real optimism about where we can go.
Earlier this summer, I hung up my hard hat with the conclusion of construction of the New Riverside Stand and Fulham Pier. It marks the completion of a vision that took years of planning, development, and ambitious commitment by many here at the Club to bring it to life. I thank everyone involved in the project and also commend our supporters for your patience and support throughout this journey.
Antonee Robinson in action against Liverpool, with the Riverside Stand in the background
Antonee Robinson in action against Liverpool, with the Riverside Stand in the background
The New Riverside Stand and Fulham Pier, essentially one in the same, are now fully operational and together represent what I believe to be the best stadium feature in global football. It is not simply a matchday venue – that was never the intention. It is one of London's premier year-round destinations, on the banks of the River Thames. This summer alone, we welcomed thousands of visitors who came for FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Tennis screenings, to enjoy our exceptional restaurants and bars, to experience live music and comedy, to participate in family entertainment and wellness offerings, to explore markets and community events, and to experience culture in spaces designed with extraordinary care and attention.
The transformation has been remarkable. Brasserie Constance, our flagship restaurant, has been awarded two AA Rosettes and was highlighted by the Michelin Guide as one of London's best restaurants for outdoor dining – a truly exceptional endorsement. More recently, Sæl Spa opened its doors, completing the final piece of the Fulham Pier puzzle. This extraordinary wellness experience spans four floors and features an iconic rooftop pool, movement and recovery facilities, and advanced wellness offerings. It is already attracting industry recognition and has become a finalist in the Good Spa Guide Awards for Best Spa in London.
Beyond the restaurants and wellness, we are also proud to feature Sophie Tea's art installation, which has transformed our architectural elements into a stunning public art experience that speaks to the unique character of this place. Lighthouse Social, Fulham Pier Hotel and the marketplace open daily along the riverside boardwalk continue to energize the neighbourhood. We have received Visit Britain accreditation and multiple industry honours, and accolades for our events and hospitality offerings continue to pour in. All of this will strengthen the financial viability of Fulham Football Club, and at time when the economics of the game are more challenging than ever.
But, in the biggest of pictures, we have created something in Fulham Pier that belongs to the people of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and all of the Capital. I am sincerely grateful that you have waited patiently for us to get it right.
A DJ on the decks on Fulham Pier
A DJ on the decks on Fulham Pier
Beyond Fulham Pier, this has been a remarkable summer for Fulham Football Club in every respect. I want to highlight a few other achievements:
Harrison Reed was voted Premier League Goal of the Season for his extraordinary late equaliser against Liverpool at Craven Cottage last season. Was there any doubt? His goal and that moment epitomized Harrison’s character and quality. He was equally the recipient of the Club’s Goal of the Season accolade, and it was great fun to have Tom Cairney present the Club award, voted by the fans, to him at halftime of the Stuttgart friendly here at the Cottage. Congratulations, Harrison, on a well-deserved honour and lifetime memory – for all of us!
Our Women's team continues to go from strength to strength. They have now remained unbeaten in league competition for two consecutive seasons, and they have begun their campaign in Tier 3 – the Women's National League Southern Premier Division – with several exciting new signings bolstering our squad and a 1-0 win over Portsmouth in their opening league fixture. Their continued excellence is a source of great pride throughout our Club, and I trust it is throughout our fan base as well.
Ellie Olds celebrates her winner against Portsmouth
Ellie Olds celebrates her winner against Portsmouth
In our Academy, we wish all of our teams the very best this season. I must note that Hayden Mullins, our brilliant U21s Head Coach who was named Premier League 2 Head Coach of the Season last year, has departed to become Men's First Team Coach at Newport County. We are genuinely proud of Hayden's progression, and we are grateful for his tremendous contributions to our development pathway. Additionally, Charlie Robinson, one of our Academy graduates, has recently retired from playing due to injury and has now joined our coaching staff. We wish Charlie all the best in this new chapter.
This summer, the Fulham FC Foundation and our EDI teams have continued their exceptional work in the community, and I am delighted to share that the Foundation's Female Youth Forum won the FA Youth Leadership Award – a recognition of the transformative impact our people are having. We were also incredibly honoured to be recognized in The Times' Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality, named as one of only three companies to watch in this prestigious ranking. Additionally, we launched FUL OF PRIDE, our supporter group dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion and community, which has been a genuine source of positive distinction for the entire Club.
On the commercial side, I want to welcome ClickHouse as our new front-of-shirt partner. The ClickHouse brand looks fantastic on all three of our 2026-2027 kits, and we look forward to a strong partnership and success as we move forward together.
I want to acknowledge the passing of former FFC Manager Kevin Keegan, the legendary footballer and manager who graced English football with his presence and passion. Kevin had a profound impact on our game, and he will be greatly missed. We are grateful for his memory and his legacy.
And, finally, I would be remiss not to salute Joe Bryan on the occasion of his retirement from playing football. Thank you, Joe, for your service to Fulham and the two goals you scored at Wembley on 4 August, 2020!
Joe Bryan celebrates scoring against Brentford in the Play-Off Final at Wembley
Joe Bryan celebrates scoring against Brentford in the Play-Off Final at Wembley
To summarize, as we stand on the brink of a new season, we will take to the pitch tonight with stability, ambition, a young squad that will benefit from the influence of reliable veterans, and supporters behind the team who deserve our very best. Álvaro Arbeloa represents a fresh start and a new opportunity to take the next step that awaits, and there is talent and spirit throughout the squad to make that happen. The early-season fixtures are challenging, but exciting. Season Tickets at Craven Cottage have sold out. The New Riverside Stand and Fulham Pier are fully open, and the English Premier League season is under way. We have a lot to celebrate, and even more to look forward to!
So, I look forward to seeing you tonight, and hope you can join us here Thursday as well for our Carabao Cup second-round tie vs. AFC Wimbledon. The FIFA World Cup was outstanding all summer, but club football is at the heart of our game and Craven Cottage is where that heart beats like nowhere else. Enjoy your time here, and thank you for your loyal support of Fulham, London’s Original Football Club.
Come on, Fulham!